“Ohio EPA is in continual communications with not only FERC, but Rover, and we are keeping a close eye on the project,” says James Lee, a spokesperson for the Ohio EPA. “But ultimately it is FERC that has the authority to order a halt, even a temporary halt to the drilling.”

Last week, Rover pipeline owner Energy Transfer Partners issued a statement saying Rover had not experienced an inadvertent return or spill while installing the second line under the Tuscarawas River. Energy Transfer Partners says they continue to work in coordination with FERC on all the remaining drilling.

In April 2017, another 2 million gallons of drilling mud was spilled into wetlands while the first pipe was being installed at the Stark location. The state has sued Rover for $2.3 million over the cleanup costs from that spill, after the pipeline’s owners refused to pay state fines.

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The $4.2 billion Rover Pipeline cutting diagonally across Ohio is drawing more concern from state regulators. Last week, the Ohio EPA told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that it is “deeply concerned” about a new spill from the Rover Pipeline.

The final say on building interstate pipelines, like the controversial NEXUS and Rover natural gas lines across northern Ohio, rests with FERC—the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. And its newly appointed chairman has come on board saying it’s time to review the agency’s pipeline policies.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is suing the Rover Pipeline, accusing it of “a series of calculated business decisions or complete indifference” that led to millions of gallons of drilling fluids and other pollution being dumped into Ohio waterways and wetlands.

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